Now in their seventh year, the World Class New Zealand Awards was one of New Zealand's most important accolades for outstanding individuals who have made major contributions to New Zealand's success on the world stage.

This black-tie gala dinner hosted a VIP audience of top international business people, senior Ministers and officials. It was an ideal opportunity to interact with the "best of the best" of New Zealand's global talent.

Each winner received the “Tall Poppy Award” designed by Academy Award® winner Richard Taylor and made in the WETA Workshop. Awards categories include:

• Supreme [sponsored by Industrial Research Ltd]
  
• New Thinking [sponsored by Gen-i]
• Friend of New Zealand [sponsored by Westpac]
• Biotechnology [sponsored by Ernst & Young]
• Creative Industries [sponsored by Wellington City Council]
• Finance, Investment & Business Services [sponsored by BDO]
• Information & Communications Technology [sponsored by MetService]
• Manufacturing [sponsored by Glidepath Group]
• Research, Science, Technology & Academia [sponsored by the Foundation for Research, Science, Technology & Academia]

Read more about the 2010 World Class New Zealand Winners

View highlights of the World Class NZ Awards (video & photo coverage)
Prof Sir Richard Faull describes how his Auckland University lab – “the All Blacks of brain research” – made unexpected discoveries including the true nature of Huntington’s disease and that brain cells can regenerate. (Sir Richard’s remarks begin at 4:00)

Eliminating “the tyranny of distance” could make this decade “the most powerful period of economic growth that New Zealand has ever seen”, Prime Minister John Key told the audience at the World Class NZ Awards.

View videos of the winners speeches and highlights of the event
View photos of the 2010 World Class New Zealand Awards

The World Class New Zealand Awards are presented by Kea with support from New Zealand Trade and Enterprise.